Improvement in rakes and hay-elevators



, KEENEY @L TARox.

vHay Loader. i

Patented April 3,1855.

i llNrraD STATES `-Rfrraiwr raies.

WILLIAM I. KEENEY AND JAMES R. TARBOX, OF SWITZERLAND COUNTY',l

' INDIANA.

y `|MPRovE|v|ENTy|N RAKES AND HAY-ELEVATORS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 12,632, dated April 3, 1855.

` specification. in which- Figure lis a perspective view of our elevator; Fig. 2, an illustration of the working of the springs at the top thereof, and Fig. 3 an `illustration of the working ofthe clutches 1n the pinion. y y

Similar letters refer to similar parts of the machine. The nature of our invention consists in a novel combination of an apron, endless belt,

and elastic clcarers, "hereinafter described,4

either alone brin connection with two driving- Vwheels provided with clutches and a rake, the

whole to constitute a hay rakingand elevating machine.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use our invention. weherewith proceed to describe its construction and operation.

A and B are the supporting and driving Y wheels, the axle of which, C, rests or. or is fixed g in the frame D, which by any attachment in E may be appended to a wagon on which the hay is to be elevated. The frame D carries an apron, F, constructed of two light timbers and wire, and is made adjustable as to its distance from the endless belt G by rods H H and set-screws I. In the rear of 'this apron the frame D carriesV the elevator proper, G, which consists of a light frame, K K K K, overreaching in height the apron F, and furnished at the top and bottom with pulleys L L L", '(the fourth being invisible on the drawings,) around which revolve the endless belts M M', carrying on them the slats N N N,

furnished with rake-prongs 0 O O O. This elevator or endless rake is set in motion by two of the pulleys L being lixed on the axle l), which carries two pinion-wheels, QQ', the cogs of which play into the tiers of cogs S, provided on the inner sides of the driving-wheels A and B. To-the frame-piece K is fastened arow ofsprin g-pron gs,T, theworkin g of which with regard to the slats N N N passing it is shown in Fig. 2, and from which it follows that when resuming their original position after every passage of a siat N they throw the hay resting 0n them against apron F, or on the wagon being loaded. t

Asrepresented in Fig. 3, the axle P is, at the place Where pinionsQ Q are fixed upon it, elon gated into a hub, and furnished with a clutch, W, which, it wheels A and B revolve in the direction of the arrow, falls into the notches X X X X, cut into the hub U, thus carrying axle P and, through said axle, pull leys L L L and the whole endless rake in its revolution, while, one or both of the wheels A and B revolving in an opposite direction, the clutch W slides over the inclined planes ofthe 'notched hub' U, leaving the axle P, and consequently the endless rake, at rest. Thus it is apparent that only in case it should be necessary to retrograde with the machine, and consequently to interrupt the operation of the endless rake, this latter purpose wiilbe accomplished automatically by the action of the clutches, while everyl other evolution may be performed with the machine around ponds, bowlders, stumps, trees, Ste., the endless rake continually performing its functions,'provided Vonly one of the two wheels continues to revolve forward. The elevation of the endless rake may be adjusted to a certain extent by the rods or braces Z Z. Y

To the hindermost part of the frame D is secured rake A A, for the purpose of raking toward the endless rake all the hay passed over by it.

B B B Bl are fenders placed underneath the frame to protect the pinions and cogs of the driving-wheel.

The machine being set in motion, the distance of the apron from the endless rake and theinclination of the latter are adjusted to suit the weight and quality of 'the hay, which, as the machine proceedsforward, will be elevated between the apron and the endless rake, whether the motion of the machine be in a straight forward, direction or describing a curve, becadse in the first case b oth wheels will revolve forward, and therefore impart movement to the endless belt, and in the second case one of the wheels will revolve torward, and thcrefbreimpart movement to the endless belt, while the other, whether standing still or revolving backward, cannot counteract said movement, in consequence of the action of its clutch. Thus the operator will be enabled to use his machine in place of handra-lies, forks, &c., in places Where the hay could not be lit'ted heretofore but hy human hand directly. The clutches being removable, this may be used as a means to disconnect lany of the pinions with the shaft P,in order to overcome, if desired, a heavy side draft occasioned on any sdeof the machine during the operation.

Finally, it is proper to state that our machine, besides Workingr well on uneven and broken ground, will work equally well during.;`

windy or stormy weather', except when the Wind is abeamJ What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination of the apron F, endless belt M M, and elastic clearers I I, either alone or in connection with two driving-Wheels, clutches, and a rake placed behind for the purpose of raking and elevating hay. as setforth.

WM I. KEENEY. JAMES R. TARBOX. Witnesses:

ALEX. Soo'r'r, SIMON BEYMER. 

